Canaveral Ships Get Low Marks In Health Test

MELBOURNE — The national Centers for Disease Control will end a 10-year-old program of inspections for U.S. cruise ships because the industry's ability to meet standards has improved.

The federal public-health agency said, however, that the Port Canaveral- based Starship Royale, which began cruises in March 1984, has never passed an inspection. The Scandinavian Sky, which began sailing from the Brevard County port in December, has failed its only two inspections to date.

Tom Demarcus of the CDC's quarantine division said that 70 percent of the 55 ships it regularly inspects are passing the examinations now. ''Ten years ago none of them could,'' he said.

In the most recent publication, the CDC said the Royale had ''multiple deficiencies'' in five of six categories that are checked routinely: drinking- water supply, refrigeration facilities, food preparation, potential for food contamination, and cleanliness and repair. The ship scored 12 out of a possible 100 in the Nov. 8 inspection; any score below 85 is considered failing. The Royale also received identical scores of 52 in April and December 1984.

The Scandinavian Sky, which received a score of 32 on its Nov. 7 inspection, had violations in many of the same categories as the Royale.

Bruce Nierenberg, executive vice president of Premier Cruise Lines, which operates the Royale and will begin three- and four-day cruises next month with a second ship, said all the violations cited had been corrected.